Find out how popular the last name Uhl is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Uhl.

Uhl, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Uhl surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Uhl in America

Uhl is the 6476th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Uhl surname appeared 5,244 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Uhl.

We can also compare 2010 data for Uhl to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Uhl

The surname Uhl originated in Germany, with its earliest known recorded instances appearing in the 15th century. The name is derived from the Old High German word "uol," which means "owl." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone who resembled an owl or had some association with these birds.

In the Middle Ages, surnames were often derived from physical characteristics, occupations, or associations with animals or objects. The Uhl name likely falls into this category, reflecting a descriptive moniker that eventually became an inherited family name.

One of the earliest known references to the Uhl name can be found in the records of the town of Nürnberg (Nuremberg) in Bavaria, Germany. In 1462, a man named Hans Uhl was listed as a citizen of the town.

Throughout the centuries, the Uhl name has been recorded with various spelling variations, including Uhl, Uhle, Uhlen, and Uhlig. These variations reflect regional dialects and differences in pronunciation and spelling conventions over time.

Uhl is also associated with several place names in Germany, such as Uhlingen, a town in Baden-Württemberg, and Uhlfelden, a municipality in Bavaria. These place names may have contributed to the formation of the surname in certain regions.

One notable individual with the Uhl surname was Johann Ludwig Uhl (1739-1810), a German architect and designer who worked in the Baroque and Neoclassical styles. He is particularly known for his work on the Frauenkirche in Dresden, a landmark church that was heavily damaged during World War II and later restored.

Another distinguished bearer of the Uhl name was Maximilian Uhl (1804-1865), a German painter and lithographer who specialized in landscapes and architectural works. His paintings often depicted scenes from Bavaria and the Alps.

In the 19th century, Johann Uhl (1810-1880) was a German Catholic theologian and philosopher who wrote extensively on the relationship between faith and reason.

The Uhl surname also has a presence in other European countries, such as Switzerland and Austria. In Switzerland, one notable figure was Johann Uhl (1767-1847), a Swiss Catholic priest and theologian who served as the bishop of Chur.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the Uhl name dates back to the mid-18th century. Johann Michael Uhl (1728-1804) was a German immigrant who settled in Pennsylvania and became a farmer and innkeeper.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Uhl

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Uhl.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Uhl was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Uhl has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Uhl was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Uhl, please contact us.

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